Official-information guide
How to Use the California School Directory
Find and verify official school, district, administrator, location, status, and contact information before an interview.
Open the official Directory
The California School Directory contains official information about public schools, private schools, districts, and county offices of education.
Start with a simple search
Enter the school or district name. You can also search by city, ZIP code, County-District-School code, status, or organization type.
Use the exact school name when possible. If several schools have similar names, verify the city and district.
Use Advanced Search when needed
Advanced Search can narrow results by organization type, status, county, district, charter status, school name, city, ZIP code, and CDS code.
- Choose Public Schools when researching a public-school position.
- Choose Districts and County Offices when you need district-level information.
- Keep status set to Active unless you are investigating historical information.
Open the correct school record
Verify the school name, district, county, city, grade span, and status. Record the school’s CDS code if you need a precise identifier.
Find official leadership and contact information
Look for administrator names, titles, school address, phone number, and district information. Use this information to verify names you found on school or district websites.
Leadership changes. Confirm the principal and other leaders close to the interview date. If a department chair is not listed publicly, write “not publicly listed” rather than guessing.
Interpret what the Directory can and cannot tell you
| The Directory is useful for | Use another source for |
|---|---|
| Official school and district names, status, location, grade span, CDS code, contact information, and listed administrators | Mission, programs, department details, school culture, current initiatives, job openings, and performance data |
Cross-check with school and district websites
Use the Directory to verify official information, then use the school and district websites to learn about priorities, programs, pathways, clubs, student supports, and current initiatives.
Record the information in your research notes
- Correct school and district names
- City and county
- Principal or school leader and title
- Department chair or “not publicly listed”
- School and district website links
- Any discrepancy you need to verify